The first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympics was won by an American! Nineteen year old Virginia Thrasher pulled off an upset in the women’s 10 meter air rifle, beating out two Chinese competitors for the victory.
https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/761924516045950976
And her story is wonderful.
A figure skater growing up, she switched sports five years ago after a hunting trip with her family. Thrasher killed a deer with her first shot of her first hunting trip and has continued to hit the mark wherever she’s gone.
Thrasher was not expected to be among the top five scorers — all that counts in NCAA competition — at shooting powerhouse West Virginia, yet got better as the season progressed. She became the first freshman to win both NCAA rifle titles and led the Mountaineers to the team championship.
Less than a month later, Thrasher won the U.S. Olympic Trials, earning a spot in Rio.
But, predictably, the gun haters freaked out. Because guns and teenagers.
LEAST SURPRISING BREAKING NEWS EVER: America's 1st Olympic Gold Medal is for Shooting. #Thrasher
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 6, 2016
America's first gold medal in the 2016 Olympics was won by a teenager for shooting. Because we now live inside @TheOnion.
— Wil Wheaton (@wilw) August 6, 2016
And not just celebrities with mouths and agendas.
If you think Ginny Thrasher was impressive in 10m Shooting, wait til you see how the American team dominates in Mass Shooting. #Olympics
— Brian Santa Maria (@briansantamaria) August 6, 2016
First medal won of the Olympics for the USA is for shooting a rifle. We are such a stereotype.
— Kyle Feldscher (@Kyle_Feldscher) August 6, 2016
More pitch-perfect symbolism: First U.S. gold medal at 2016 games is for…shooting things.https://t.co/KVDps4OGsF
— Billmon (@billmon1) August 6, 2016
First Gold medal for the US is in what?
Shooting.
— MAX (@mr_wrightaway) August 6, 2016
By a woman named Virginia Thrasher.
Jokes write themselves. https://t.co/ESRS1yQo3V— Lauren Chanel Allen (@MichelleHux) August 6, 2016
Seriously, if your hoplophobia and your political agenda gets in the way of congratulating an Olympic champion, then you need to rethink your life. And your usage of Twitter.
We here at Victory Girls extend our happy congratulations to Virginia Thrasher on her outstanding achievement!
Somehow, after reading this, the term “trigger liberals” takes on a different meaning.
Merle
When I read she won gold in shooting my very first thought was liberals would go nuts and ask Obama to bar her reentry back into the US.
She is also studying engineering. She is smart and talented. She is earning her way. Not exactly the poster child for feminism.
Sounds like a real catch for some man! Smart, competent woman.
And, Go America! We darn well ought to win at shooting!
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